Lessons

1) People act differently around family.

With roommates' families in town for graduation there were family members everywhere in our apartment. It was very entertaining to watch the interactions of siblings and parents. It was also eye opening to see my roommates interact with their families. Family is the one place where most of us feel that we can be ourselves. Those are the interactions that are the most honest. I think it is important to see people with their families to truly understand them. 

2) I think a lot, especially in the bathroom when cleaning or getting ready.

Random, I know. This afternoon I was organizing my stuff in my new bathroom and then got ready to go out to dinner with my Grandma. I realized my mind was just going crazy. There were so many things I wanted to write down but didn't have anything to assist in that endeavor and was too lazy to get one. I think notepads and pens should be placed in the bathroom. 

3) New chapter starts now.

My roommates both moved out today. I miss them. I don't think it has really hit me yet. But I am sure it will. My new roommate moves in soon. I go to the Genealogy conference in SLC and then I'm off to Idaho and finally England. WOW! Here we go!

Spring and Goals

It is here!!! The trees are budding, The neighbor is mowing his lawn. The birds are singing. The daffodils and tulips are coming up. It is warm. It smells like Spring. I am so glad it is here!

I have noticed a few things that Spring as brought along with it. I have had more contact from old friends the past week than I have all semester. People I didn't think I would ever hear from again. It has been great! Took me by surprise at first. It has been really nice to catch up with old friends and to hear about their lives. To hear that their lives are going well. They are moving forward with their lives and are going places. I am so happy for them!!!

I love that spring brings people out.

I also wanted to report on my goals. They went really well. There were a few hiccups that made a few of them more difficult but I only really failed at one (keeping my room clean). I got a 6 out of 7. YAY!! I even started adding goals to the list that weren't there from the start.

Today Was A Cooking Day

Today was beautiful! Warm, fresh and just lovely. Spring is here (at least for today). I had a moment today when I was about to go against several of my goals that I set a few days ago. The feelings of ill will and anger began to grow as I let something bother me that really shouldn't have. I needed to get out. I needed to walk it off. I needed fresh air. I would NOT fail those goals so easily.

The result was me walking home from school. It was beautiful but the walk was not long enough for me to settle down. I still felt hurt and misunderstood. I felt that what was going wrong was my fault (which it isn't, I know this). Unsure of what to do, I took a short nap on the couch. Woke up feeling refreshed but not back to 100%.

I decided to cook.

That solved my problems. I made Parmesan Italian Chicken, baked potatoes, cream corn (from the can) AND a strawberry-banana pie. The feelings of happiness and joy came forth again. It wasn't my fault. I was over the thing that had disrupted my afternoon. I had been productive and made something that others and myself can enjoy.

It was a wonderful discovery :)

PS this is post 100!!!

Dishes and Life

I was doing dishes tonight and was thinking. The convo in my head went like this:

Angela 1: "Ya know, it would be so much easier to clean these dishes if they were just washed right away."

Angela 2: "No kidding! Then you wouldn't be scrubbing these dishes."

Angela 1: "How can I apply this to life?"

Angela 2: "Well, if you repent and make things right, and if you do it right away, it is easier."

Angela 1: "Huh - I like it."

It was fun and I thought I would share.

Something New

With General Conference this past weekend, I have found a few things I want to start doing. The main thing I will be working on is what I call PAI (Personal Angela Interview). I actually got this idea from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Washington locked himself in his library several hours every week to ponder his life and who he was. I have liked this idea for some time and I have finally decided to do something similar. I will set aside time each week to look at my goals and my purpose of each and see how I'm doing on the goals. I am excited to spend time on myself and set goals and accomplish them on my way to becoming a better person.

Last night I set my goals and next week I'll take a good look at what I did well and what I didn't. I hope to tell you all that I did well. :D

entertain me.

I don't mean to be so pessimistic in my posts but things have been difficult lately and so the little things are coming up to the top.

I am getting to the point where I am standing up for myself. I'm ready to actually fight back. I'm ready to be bold and be me. Here we go.

I am tired of being the "I'm only talking to you because I'm bored" friend. Please care about me because you actually care about me. Not because you have nothing better to do. Talk to me because you want to get to know me. Not because you need to be entertained.

I'm fed up of the texts, chats, phone calls and Facebook messages that literally say, "I'm bored." And sub-textually say, "I have no one else to talk to and you are my last resort and as soon as I find something better I'll forget you again." That isn't a friend and don't be surprised if I don't respond.

There is a difference between old friends catching up every once and a while. I love those moments and live for those. I am also very grateful for those friends that are really friends and really do care about me. I don't know what I would do without you.

Friendly Reminder

I was reminded today of how single I am. Fake smile.

Eye of the Storm

I can finally breathe. I'm taking the big deep breath before I plunge in again. 

This week I started and finished a research report in 4 days. Why only 4 days, you ask? Because I haven't had time, period. I was working on another research paper that was due last week. I'm glad it is over. I have been at school/work from 9 to 5 every day. Then I go home for an hour and back up on campus until 11pm or later. Try to fall asleep at midnight and getting up at 7. It hasn't been easy. Now lets add a few things on top of that:

Eating food

Sleep

Preparing for my internship

Getting Internship papers signed

Packing up my stuff

Doing my other homework

Keeping the apartment clean

Doing dishes

Training my job replacement

Trying to figure out how to keep my job when I come back 

Finding a new roommate for next year, not to mention sp/su.

I'm not looking for pity or anything. I just wanted to share my week. Oh and next week, I get to do it all again!!! yay school.

Clothes and Confidence

It is amazing the confidence and attitude that clothes can give their wearer. The wearer takes on the attitude/confidence that the clothes portray. Someone who wears business clothes finds that they are successful in their activities and feel confident. Wearing sweats and a t-shirt bring a very casual, lazy or even frumpy attitude. Wearing a skirt for girls can make them feel flirty. Tough biker clothes can help one feel invincible and tough.

I find that I dress for the confidence I want. If I want to feel confident, I wear something that is stylish and makes me feel cute. I know that if I wear old clothes or baggy clothes I feel gross and apathetic. If I want to be flirty - I have outfits for that too. Yesterday I wanted to wear comfortable clothes as I was finishing my homework marathon but still wanted to be successful. I chose to wear my dad's BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) pants, a cute cami and a fitted hoodie. I didn't really think much about what this would do for my confidence or success levels. But it really was a battle dress uniform for me. I felt tough. I felt strong. I felt like I could do it. The day (Wednesday) before had been a really not-so-good day. Things hadn't changed much on Thursday but because I was wearing those pants - I felt so much stronger. No break downs cause I was tough. I was Angela Strong.